Keep up with what's happening in the Australian Real Estate Industry

Building & Construction - Planning

The Building Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Act 2016(the Act) which was passed by the Victorian Government on 19 April 2016 imposes sweeping reforms in respect to a number of significant areas affecting residential construction in Victoria. By reason of a Proclamation published in the Victoria Government Gazette No. S 194 dated 21 June 2016, certain sections of the Act are to commence and ‘become live’ on 4 July this year. While the purpose of the...

Parliamentary inquiry to examine ‘what really happened behind closed doors’, says Greens MP David Shoebridge An inquiry will investigate controversial planning decisions in the NSW Hunter region amid allegations Liberal MPs received illegal donations from developers. The newly formed parliamentary inquiry will examine contentious projects in Newcastle and the Hunter, such as the Newcastle Urban Renewal Strategy, the Whitebridge housing development and the truncation of the Newcastle rail line. [More…]

THE Victorian government has released its vision for the Fishermans Bend precinct, with long-term plans for the urban renewal project including two underground train stations and the extension of the Collins Street tram over the Yarra River. The industrial area abutting Southbank and across the river from the Docklands has been earmarked for five new residential suburbs housing up to 80,000 people and will become the workplace for 40,000. A mixture of low-density, medium-density and...

INQUIRY rates for granny flats have soared this year and they’re not all planned as a home for older relatives. Specialist builders say there has been “a substantial increase” in the number of people asking about ancillary accommodation or “granny flats’’ since the State Government announced in March it would change legislation to allow the flats to be rented to non-relatives. Investment experts said the legislation changes, gazetted on August 2, would be a “game...